Monthly income of Ukrainian families is only USD 111 per person

According to statistics, the average salary of a Ukrainian in March 2017 was 6,957 UAH (about USD $260) monthly. On this amount income earners have to support their families, which gives, according to the government’s official data, only 111 US Dollars per family member.

Despite the modest absolute number of the average March 2017 pay check, the trend can be called positive. A year ago it was only 5,046 UAH ($188 at the relevant exchange rate).

Salary range

Analysts from Trud.com complied an updated list of most popular professions. The data came from analyzing vacancies placed through the online recruitment portal, Vesti-UA.net reported.

In 2017, the highest wages are offered to sales managers, drivers, and IT workers.

These specialists can earn around 10,000 UAH ($375) per month. People employed in show business and real estate can hope for about the same paychecks.

If one considers the entire range of wages advertised, this is what we will find:

85% of employers are not ready to pay employees more than 13,000 UAH ($487).

Job ads offering 13,000 – 26,000 UAH ($487-975): 12%.

Vacancies paying 26,000 – 39,000 UAH ($975-1462): 2.3%.

Job offers with remuneration 50,000 UAH ($1875) or more: 0.05%.

However, there are still plenty of Ukrainian employers offering basic salaries of around the minimum wage 3,200 hryvnia, which is just 120 US Dollars. This is per month, not per week. Weekly payments are not practiced in the country.

At the same time, the government still fights so called “shadow economy”, where people get paid cash in envelopes, which allows both workers and hirers to save on taxes. It’s estimated about 40-47% of the state’s economy is in the shade. So, we can adjust the average earnings by 25-40% for a cash topper “in the envelope”, which is still a pretty low figure, whichever way you look at it.

But wait. Why you converting everything to dollars? 7000 UAH is a lot of money in Ukraine, even for entire family. Income for 1 person exceeding 5000 hryvnas is king-like. 50 000 hryvnas is about to become a emperor of universe. If they earn slightly above average wage, or at least more than minimum wage, they can still save a lot of money. No joke, seriously. And why are you repeating in every article that story of grey and black economy? Do you seriously think that in United Kingdom or France, USA… every income is white-only? No. This is happening… Read more »

Fajid,
How about you go to Ukraine and try to live on 7,000 Hryvnia (USD 265)? Being single, it’s a king-like income, as you say. Then write a report for us, it would be a great story 🙂
Also check this post: Ukrainians spend 42% of their income on food

Ok. 3000 UAH or even less is rent in cheaper cities. For food I would never spend 42% of my income. It is below 10%. Because I was raised in poverty, and I learned how to not only survive, but even to thrive with actual sources available and high savings rate. Part of it is my discovery and partly it is inherited know-how. And when I am saying ‘I was poor’, I meant ‘relative poverty’ (European poors are still counted like global-above-average). And seriously, both 7000 UAH as well as 265 USD, is lot of money for a month.

Fajid,
Have you been to Ukraine? Do you know how people getting $111/month income per family member live there? In “cheaper cities” wages are way lower than 7000 UAH (USD 265). See what people in Ukraine earn on average by region.
Just don’t forget that 3 years ago Ukrainian wages were 2 times higher (in USD) than today.

Fajid, this is not happening everywhere, i don’t know why you think its normal but it isn’t. and it’s quite possible to be proud of your country and accept the reality of what’s happening in it as well.

Fajid, LOL, you’ve never been to Ukraine recently but unfortunately, the economy has worsened since most of Ukraine’s trade was dependent on Russia before 2014. Why? Because due to decrease of 8 hgrivnas to $1 USD (it’s now about 25 hgrivnas to $1 USD), there is massive inflation, which is made worse by the gov embargo against East Ukraine’s coal & steel industry. It costs about $200 to $300 USD PER MONTH in food, depending on how much meat you buy –it costs $50-$100 USD per MONTH for heating, gas, & electricity due to the massive austerity & prices increases… Read more »

Elena, when I read this article, and other articles on the Elenas Models’ blog about monthly salaries in Belarus, Ukraine and Russia, but especially Ukraine (I am traveling to Ukraine, Kiev specifically, very soon and am most interested in Kiev and Ukrainian salaries), you list average monthly salary figures….but you NEVER state whether these are monthly salaries Before Tax or After Tax. Obviously there is a huge difference between an average monthly salary in Ukraine of $260 Before Tax (would only equal about $208 after tax as 20% is the approximate tax rate in Ukraine from what I can gather… Read more »

Steven,
All figures I use are from the official government statistics, and the way the numbers are reported is universal for all countries. As you refer to your own income and earnings, wage or salary, it’s always before tax. There is no need for any clarifications, as the methodology of reporting is standard.

I have been in Ukraine in April this year with some friends. We have spoken to many people there, in Ivano-Frankivsk and Kjiv. Maybe 98% of them said to us, that they earn less then minimum wage. Less than 3200 UAH per month! Officially they earn the minimum wage, but their chiefs said them, they can not pay the new minimum wage. It was doubled this year!! From 1600 UAH to 3200 UAH. So a lot of people gets offically the minimum wage but de facto they earn less money. I think the statistics are not including this sad facts.… Read more »